Tomas Chlebek Before buying a new iPhone, I faced a dilemma - I protected the previous model with a combination of Invisible Shield and Gelaskin. However, I came to the conclusion that I like the new design so much that I don't want to cover it with anything - one possible solution was the Invisible Shield for the whole phone, but covering the metal and glass with "rubber" seemed very inappropriate to me, so I looked for transparent cover, which are made of plastic (or aluminum), but I perceived them as the most suitable solution.
The requirement was also that the cover must add as little as possible to the size and weight of the iPhone (thus, aluminum covers tend to fall away); after all, I didn't buy an extremely thin and light phone to turn it into a brick with a cover. So, at first glance, the Thorncase bamboo cover does not meet any of my original requirements.
Theoretical
Thorncase has several potentially problematic properties. It is not suitable for people who do not like changing the user experience, but it cannot be said that it is suitable for people who welcome it. It provides a very specific user experience. First, I will describe the practical experience with Thorncase, and then I will explain what kind of perception results from them and how it fits or does not fit into the iPhone concept.
Thorncase is a wooden case. In order not to crack immediately and to be reliable, it must have a thickness greater than that required by plastic or metal covers. It means that the iPhone will add about 5 millimeters to the dimensions on all sides. While the "naked" iPhone 5/5S has dimensions of 123,8 x 58,6 x 7,6 mm, the Thorncase has 130,4 x 64,8 x 13,6 mm. The weight will increase from 112 grams to 139 grams.
When choosing a cover, we have 3 basic appearance options – clean, with engraving from the manufacturer's offer, or our own engraved motif (more on that later). These versions are then available for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S on request and for 5C as well as for iPad and iPad mini. Covers are imported from China, additional modifications such as engraving, dipping in oils, grinding, etc. are carried out in the Czech Republic. All covers are (within one phone/tablet model) identical in dimensions and properties, although they probably differ in weight by a few grams depending on the material taken by engraving.
Practical
The cover is made very precisely, at the first touch and putting it on the phone gives the impression of a quality accessory. When putting it on, it is necessary to use a slight pressure indicating that everything fits very tightly and so there is very little chance of debris getting between the cover and the phone to scratch the phone. After repeatedly putting it on and taking it off and using it for two weeks, I didn't notice any damage, at least not with the silver iPhone 5.
From the inside, a fabric "lining" is glued to the cover, preventing direct contact of metal/glass with wood. This is not the case on the sides, but with careful cleaning before putting on, there is no need to worry about damage. I have a protective film stuck on the front of the phone. The cover only covers the aluminum edges from the front, so I didn't encounter any incompatibilities when sliding it onto the phone.
The fitted cover holds firmly. It is very unlikely that it will spontaneously split or the phone will fall out, even if dropped. The holes also fit perfectly, they do not limit the functionality of the iPhone, although due to the thickness, compared to the "naked" phone, access to the buttons for sleep / wake, volume and silent mode is slightly worse. There are cut-outs in the cover at appropriate places, which are as deep as the buttons. I didn't notice a problem with the connectors either, on the contrary, it's easier to hit blindly.
In terms of display functionality, the only aspect that could be limited is the use of gestures, especially to go back (and step forward in Safari), which I loved so much in iOS 7. The cover does not cover the entire frame around the display, so once you get used to the second, raised frame, gestures can be used without problems.
The only design issue with the case is that the holes for the buttons, connectors, microphone and speaker easily collect dirt, as well as around the aforementioned edge formed by the bezel around the front of the phone. However, it is clear that this problem is always present, with the Thorncase it is just a little harder to get rid of dirt due to the depth of the cutouts, unless you want to remove the cover. However, I would not recommend doing this too often, because the lock is also wooden and frequent stress would probably lead to earlier cracking.
The engraved motif is hardly disturbed by the joint, everything fits. At a minimum, but still, only the gaps between the parts of the cover on the sides of the phone are noticeable and there is a slight clearance flowing from them, there is no need to worry about any creaks or pinching of the skin of the hand during use - you will not notice it during simple use. In contrast to the relatively sharp edges of the thin iPhone, which give the impression of industrial perfection, but perhaps reduce the comfort of use for some, all the edges of the Thorncase are rounded. Once you get used to the larger dimensions, the phone feels comfortable in your hand. However, if the iPhone itself seems too wide for you, the Thorncase would probably not make you happy. The monolithic nature of the iPhone's construction is practically undisturbed by the Thorncase, the bamboo wood adds a sense of organicity to the experience of using the phone, which it evokes in combination with the material used.
As already mentioned, one option is to have your own motif burned onto the cover. In this case, you will just have to be patient, because production takes several days (the motif must be redrawn by hand in a format suitable for engraving, fired, sanded, filled with oil, allowed to dry). The manufacturer states on its website that there is no problem even with very complex motifs - shading can also be created. Only a few proposals were forced to reject. In my case, the fired image is very close to the original and judging by the photos on Instagram this is a very common phenomenon.
Thorncase makes iPhone more alive
For some, it may be an advantage that the iPhone doesn't get lost in the pocket so easily, but this does not mean that the Thorncase makes it feel any better. This becomes apparent only after you reach into your pocket, whether you have the urge to check the time or who texted you. Instead of the usually cold, fascinatingly withdrawn metal, you will feel the subtle but clearly recognizable structure of bamboo wood, which is impregnated with oil, but not varnished, so that it feels natural, organic. It's as if you were carrying a piece of nature in your pocket, which has been subjected to human purposes, but not at the expense of disrupting its natural life.
like the box, the phone's new body makes it endearingly clunky while retaining the sophistication of the original product. The buttons and the display do not protrude from the body, they become an organic part of it, as if you were looking inside a fascinating biomechanical being. Such a perception is further enhanced by the layers of iOS 7, when it seems that we penetrate into a world parallel to ours, which is similar to it, alive, only in a very specific way.
The point is that if intelligent design were present in our world, its beings would look very similar. The offered engraved motifs are dominated by those that evoke the symbolism of natural nations, which is adequate to the mystical nature that the iPhone with Thorncase acquires in the dark. At least a few days after unpacking, the engraved cover smells of burnt wood, which adds to its organic character.
I liked Thorncase. According to the company, Apple products are mainly about the user experience, what it's like to use them. Thorncase gives me an experience that is completely new, strange and fascinating in its own way. It does not overlap the features of the iPhone, rather it gives them a new dimension.
Custom motif production
We had the reviewed case made with our own motif. See how data is prepared for production.
Gallery
I bought the cover on DomDom.us and I am extremely satisfied, 0,3 mm wooden Ozaki. I think Thorn are awfully rude.
Personally, I've had the Thorn case for a little over a month and I'm extremely happy with it. I agree with what was written in the review that the iPhone will get a completely new dimension and philosophy. For one week, I tried alternating it with plastic covers, whether from Ozaki or another manufacturer, and I always looked forward to the evening when I would come home and put my bamboo back on :-) It is more pleasant to the touch, very original, and I have not had it with anyone else he didn't see my surroundings. The only drawback is really the dust behind the buttons for silent mode and sound, and the second drawback is that I also have a foil stuck on the front and when I push the cover from the side or from below, it creates small bubbles that can be polished off, but it's still not perfect the best. Otherwise, complete satisfaction and when it's worst, I can always take it off, put on plastic or leave the iPhone on "Adam" and that's it :-)
"The iPhone will get a completely new dimension and philosophy" :D
and what's so funny about that? it depends how you take it and if you think about what was written in this review, the iPhone will really get a different philosophy from my personal point of view in combining natural material with technical metal/glass and the biomechanical point of view in my opinion is the same, great technology wrapped in hand-made work, from a philosophical point of view the meeting of nature with human technology :-) that's a corner of philosophy :-) and we can continue to philosophize :)
Well, you didn't do much with your hands on that package - it can be seen that you have no idea what manual work means...
Well, so far I have not met a packaging that comes closer to that "handwork" than the one from Thorn, and if you read the production process on their website, it is very close to handwork, considering today's machine and mechanical production and we'll compare it. I guess it depends what one imagines under the term handmade, of course it's not like somewhere out there in the field where they collect something and then make a specific product by hand, but it's still much more handmade than covers from Ozaki, Belkin, etc. .
But in this case it won't fit in the case I bought yesterday. So I'd rather just carry my phone in a case. Otherwise it's this: http://www.belenty.com/cs/htc-one-pouzdro-cream-detail/ I like?